Chapman, Miller arrive at World Series via Yankees trades
making a deal with the Reds.
Cashman figured that Chapman would either be a key piece if the Yankees were able to contend or a valuable trade chip otherwise.
After a 30-game suspension levied by the commissioner’s office, it turned out to be the latter, and Chapman, despite two shaky performances in this postseason, still gives Cubs manager Joe Maddon the option of using his triple-digit fastball for more than one inning.
Twice this month, Chapman got burned by his best pitch, with the Giants’ Conor Gillaspie and the Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez barreling up 102-mph heaters.
He has been far from perfect, with a 3.38 ERA in eight appearances, as well as allowing two of his six inherited runners to score. But that didn’t prevent Maddon from going to Chapman Saturday night with a Dodgers runner on first base and one out in the eighth inning.
On his third pitch, a 100mph fastball, Chapman got Howie Kendrick to bounce into a double play. In the ninth, after a strikeout and walk, he needed one more pitch, at 101, to get Yasiel Puig to ground into another DP that made history for the Cubs.
“I’m very fortunate and blessed,” Chapman said, “that I was the man to bring this team back to the World Series.”
Chapman delivered the Cubs with those final few outs, something that had escaped the franchise in 2003 and 1984.
But as far as carrying a club to this Fall Classic, no reliever did it better than Miller, the American League Championship Series MVP.
He stifled the Blue Jays in every situation, with 14 strikeouts over 7⅔ scoreless innings — tying the strikeout record set by the Astros’ Brad Lidge in 2004.
Overall in these playoffs, Miller has 21 strikeouts, two walks and has yet to yield an earned run in 11⅔ innings.
“Nobody’s ever done that,” Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway said. “That big kid can do whatever he wants.
“When we were talking about who we should acquire at the deadline, this is the reason. Somebody that can come in for the biggest spots, we can leverage to the max, and that’s why we got him.”
While Chapman intimidates with scorching heat, Miller baffles the opposition using his unhittable slider, a contrast in styles reflected in their personalities.
After Miller received his ALCS MVP trophy Thursday at Rogers Centre, he leaned up against a locker in the frat wild clubhouse, talking casually as he took the occasional swig of champagne.
“I can’t wait to see what it’s like in Cleveland, honestly,” Miller said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how they react.”
In New York, however, this World Series creates mixed emotions, for sure.
“That big kid can do whatever he wants. When we were talking about who we should acquire at the deadline, this is the reason. — Mickey Callaway, Indians pitching coach